1. Abstinence means avoiding sexual intercourse –Oral sex –Vaginal sex –Anal sex –Any activity that involves skin-to-skin contact in the genital area 100% effective in preventing pregnancy & sexual transmission of STI’s Abstinence

2. Reasons For Choosing Abstinence: Moral/Religious reasons (belief that you should wait until marriage) To avoid STI’s To avoid pregnancy (only method that is 100% effective) Psychological/emotional reasons Postponing is a test of love

3. How Will I Know When I’m Ready? Ask yourself: –Is this what I want? Or am I doing it to please someone else? –Can I talk to my partner about sex? Does my partner care what I think? –Will having sex now make my life better or worse? –Would I feel embarrassed or ashamed if other people knew I was having sex? –Do I know how to protect myself & my partner from STI’s and pregnancy? –How will I feel if we have sex and then break up?

4. “It would be better to lose someone who is constantly pressuring you to have sex than to regret doing it.” Quotes From Teens

5. You’re Not Ready For Sex If… You feel pressured You think it is going to improve a relationship You think everyone else is doing it Your partner isn’t ready You can’t talk about it with your partner You don’t have a way to protect yourself from STI’s and pregnancy You need to get drunk or stoned to do it Your partner needs to get drunk or stoned to do it